NORTH HAVEN, Conn – Looking to win its first match of the season, the Quinnipiac women’s tennis team squared off against Merrimack for the first time in program history. After an 0-2 start to the young season, the Bobcats won their first match of the year, 4-3, on the heels of impressive performances by upperclassmen and a newcomer. 

Seniors Claire Koscielski and Alessia Truden kicked off the doubles matchups with a commanding 6-0 victory. The combination of Trudens’ cannon shot from the back line and Koscielski’s quickness in front of the net gave their opponents trouble. Junior Alexandra Luehrman and freshman Mira Filiberti earned Quinnipiac the doubles point with a comfortable 6-2 victory, the first doubles point of the season for the team. 

Exactly like last year, Koscielski continued her dominance in the singles matchups. The Indianapolis native swept her opponent in both sets with ease. She keeps her playstyle simple, which leaves room for minimal errors. 

“I usually try to play pretty consistently from the baseline and just attack when I can,” Koscielski said. “When the ball is inside the service line I’ll try to come to the net, but I would say I’m mainly a baseline player.”

Koscielski left her mark on the entire match, going a combined 18-0. 

Senior Jordan Bradley replicated Koscielski’s dominant performance with one of her own one court over. Bradley cruised through both of her sets, overpowering her opponent with her forehand strikes while maintaining consistent pressure on the attack at the front of the net. The ability to  capitalize on her opponents’ mistakes helped Bradley succeed on the day. 

Freshman Vera Sekerina made an unforgettable Quinnipiac debut. The Kazan, Russia product blanked her opponent in the first set, keeping her on her heels. Sekerina went down early in the second set, but took a deep breath to regain her focus and plowed through the rest of the way to a 6-3 victory. 

Sekerina’s performance caught the attention of her teammates and head coach Paula Miller. Without graduate student Kamilla Nella and senior Andie Williams in the lineup due to illness, she was slotted in at an important spot. 

“She just came in this semester and wasn’t eligible to play the first two matches so this was her first,” Miller said. “She did a great job and clinched the win for us which was big.”

Quinnipiac looks to continue their momentum as they will host a strong tennis program in the Delaware Saturday at 6 p.m. in North Haven.